A37042:640
The dying man's testament to the Church of Scotland, or, A treatise concerning scandal…
The dying man's testament to the Church of Scotland, or, A treatise concerning scandal divided into four parts ... : in each of which there are not a few choice and useful questions, very shortly and satisfyingly discussed and cleared / by ... Mr. James Durham ... who being dead (by this) yet speaketh ; and published by John Carstares ... ; to which is prefixed an excellent preface of famous Mr. Blair ... ; together with a table of the contents of the several chapters of each part.
Edinburgh: printed by Christopher Higgins, 1659
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Having laid down these general helps, we are now to consider what is yet to be forborne and abstained from in reference to union: For, as ordinarily divisions rise and are •omented, from and by doing and driving of some things, which others cannot concur in, or come up to; So when such things are abstained from, there is the nearer access to union; at least, it stoppeth the impetuousness of division, and maketh it to look liker a difference, which (considering humane infirmity) is neither so intolerable in […], nor hurtful to the Church. Beside therefore what hath been said for abstaining of personal reflections, or what may irritate persons, or parties, or what may entertain jealousy or diffidence amongst them, whereof something hath been touched upon, We shall add these things further,
HAving laid down these generall helps, we are now to consider what is yet to be forborn and abstained from in reference to union: For, as ordinarily divisions rise and are •omented, from and by doing and driving of some things, which others cannot concur in, or come up to; So when such things are abstained from, there is the nearer accesse to union; at least, it stoppeth the impetuousness of division, and maketh it to look liker a difference, which (considering humane infirmity) is neither so intolerable in 〈…〉, nor hurtfull to the Church. Beside therefore what hath been said for abstaining of personal reflections, or what may irritate persons, or parties, or what may entertain jealousie or diffidence amongst them, whereof something hath been touched upon, We shall add these things further,
1. All things that contribute to weaken the repute1 of others, or to beget an hard impression of them in our selves or in others, in the general, would be forborne; such as telling of reproachful reports, even though they be true, much more if they be but reported, ⟨p. 346⟩